An essay on the back of the bottle...just talks about how the hop shortage affected the 12th anniversary beer in that they were somewhat forced to brew a more malt forward beer and utilize something else for "bitterness."

Poured into a large tulip glass. A very long and viscous pour developed a dense, creamy, tight brown head on top of an extremely dark brown body, verging on black.

This serious looking beer has a bold aroma. Many of the usual suspects: dark chocolate, coffee, raisins, Bailey's Irish cream and some sweet booze.

A dynamic beer to say the least. When it was chilled, I got more of the roast barley malt and a wonderful, rich chocolate aftertaste. As it has warmed, more aromas and flavors start to pop, and as the beer approaches room temperature, the booziness becomes enhanced, though never becomes "hot." Just does end up with an almost solvent character. Bitter chocolate, coffee, creamy...

Flavors were similar to aroma. Now at room temperature (just below) it actually becomes slightly unpleasant, though I wonder if that was because I poured in the "chunks" at the bottom of the bottle...should have left that out.

The body of the beer is medium heavy with a very smooth texture and plenty of carbonation for the style.

This was an enjoyable beer. I am glad I aged it for four years, because apparently it used to be "hot" and that's never good. I think the age mellowed the beer's alcohol burn, added a layer of complexity with maybe a touch of oxidation, and allowed the chocolate to come through better. Definitely though it needs to be chilled before consumption.

I would suggest this with any dense, rich, chocolate dessert, like lava cake or flourless chocolate torte.

Poured into a snifter. Dark jet black, no highlights. Small one finger head that is cocoa colored and creamy in appearance. Lace is fairly minimal at this point but as to be expected for this being 5 years old.

Smell is still sweet like I remember. Chocolate, dark fruits like fig or cherries, kind of jammy but remarkable.

Taste is not much like I remember that lazy night at the hotel across from Disneyland. The chocolate is for the most part gone and all that is left is the tart of the fruit and alcohol. Still quite tasty but a shell of it's former self.

Mouth is smooth and creamy, carbonation is on the bright side (especially for it's age) and the finish is short and on the dry side.

Overall I should thank dgb3 first, for sending me this last year so I would have a six year vertical anniversary. This isn't as good as I remember and probably past it's time but still a solid Oatmeal Stout. I think if you ran across this it is a must buy but to spend the money to trade for this at this point isn't a great idea.

Received in a cellar-to-cellar trade. I figured this was probably near the end of its shelf life and I didn't wait too long to open it. I was rewarded with a wonderful beer that delivered so many tasting elements.

The beer developed very little head at, but many stouts at this ABV level don't. The smell gave off the promised bitter chocolate along with vanillin and boozy wood tones.

The first, and strongest, element in the taste was strong roasted malts, followed immediately by whiskey. Chocolate and vanilla lingered behind, making a weaker showing than I would have liked. Strongly bitter up front, like espresso without too much of a coffee flavor, with clean chocolate notes in the wash and aftertaste.

Silky and viscous with a touch of chalkiness. Really nice to take down slowly.

Served in a Stone 15th Anniversary snifter, this is a really nice beer. Beer is black with a one finger dark brown head of small bubbles, good retention, nice lacing, looks great.

Aroma is strong and chocolaty, with a mild roast.

Beer is medium in body and sweet with a nice late bitterness from the roast of the grains, the finish is clean and the midpalate is sweet with a nice chocolate flavor and a medium body. I really like it. I'd have it again.